Work Begins On First Revamp Of State Criminal Code Since 1970s In Mo. Senate

A Missouri Senate panel is beginning work on an effort to overhaul the state's criminal code.

Credit Flickr | alancleaver_2000

The legislation is the work of a Missouri Bar panel that began meeting five years ago to give the code its first makeover since the 1970s.

The measure would create new classes of felonies and misdemeanors and give judges more flexibility in sentencing.

The Senate's judiciary committee held a hearing Monday on the 1,000-page bill sponsored by Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jolie Justus of Kansas City. The committee did not vote on the bill and planned another hearing Tuesday.

The Missouri Senate will be led by new people when it convenes for the 2013 session.

Majority party Republicans on Thursday nominated Sen. Tom Dempsey, of St. Charles, to serve as president pro tem - the top position in the chamber. Dempsey still must be elected by the full Senate when it convenes in January, but that is expected to be a mere formality.